Teacher in Florida loses job over "Wizardry" charge

[lfot]

I really don't need to say anything other than...
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=79533

Magic trick costs teacher job

By: Janie Porter

Land 'O Lakes, Florida -- The stories in the news about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students have been overwhelming. There was even a substitute teacher in New Port Richey who got in trouble after investigators say she had a relationship with an underage student.

Well, another Pasco County substitute teacher's job is on the line, but this time it's because of a magic trick.

The charge from the school district — Wizardry!

Substitute teacher Jim Piculas does a 30-second magic trick where a toothpick disappears then reappears.

But after performing it in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes, Piculas said his job did a disappearing act of its own.

"I get a call the middle of the day from the supervisor of substitute teachers. He says, 'Jim, we have a huge issue. You can't take any more assignments. You need to come in right away,'" he said.

When Piculas went in, he learned his little magic trick cast a spell that went much farther than he'd hoped.

"I said, 'Well Pat, can you explain this to me?' 'You've been accused of wizardry,' [he said]. Wizardry?" he asked.

Tampa Bay's 10 talked to the assistant superintendent with the Pasco County School District who said it wasn't just the wizardry and that Picular had other performance issues, including "not following lesson plans" and allowing students to play on unapproved computers.

Piculas said he knew nothing about the accusations.

"That... I think was embellished after the fact to try to cover what initially what they were saying to me," he said.

After the magic trick, Rushe's principal requested Piculas be dismissed. Now, Piculas believes the incident may have bewitched his ability to get a job anywhere else.

"I still have no idea what my discipline involves because I've never received anything from the school district actually saying what it entails," said Piculas.

As a substitute teacher, the Pasco County School District considers Piculas to be an "at will employee." That means the district doesn't need to have cause for not bringing him back at all.

[masraum]

Really, if someone tells you "you've been accused of wizardry" is there any other appropriate response besides "are you f'ing kidding me?"

[IROC]

I bet you won't find any Harry Potter books in their library, either.

[MikeSid]

Originally Posted by masraum

Really, if someone tells you "you've been accused of wizardry" is there any other appropriate response besides "are you f'ing kidding me?"

Of course. You turn them into a newt.

[lfot]

I would have just "pulled" a coin out of the administrator's ear and told him of the DIRE CONSEQUENCES that will befall all those that oppose me!

I bet I could keep my job then.

[Tim Walsh]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

Of course. You turn them into a newt.

The problem with that is they get better.

[sammyg2]

I've said it before, the kids are smarter than the people running the schools.
Most of these "administrators" wouldn't be qualified to push a mop in the real world.

[kang]

Sounds like the magic trick was just the last straw:

“Picular had other performance issues, including "not following lesson plans" and allowing students to play on unapproved computers.”

It’s quite possible that this teacher had it coming already, well before this magic trick.

Of course, we don’t have the whole story, or even both sides of the story, so it’s hard to draw any conclusions.

[lfot]

Piculas said he knew nothing about the accusations.

"That... I think was embellished after the fact to try to cover what initially what they were saying to me," he said.

After the magic trick, Rushe's principal requested Piculas be dismissed. Now, Piculas believes the incident may have bewitched his ability to get a job anywhere else.

"I still have no idea what my discipline involves because I've never received anything from the school district actually saying what it entails," said Piculas.

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by IROC

I bet you won't find any Harry Potter books in their library, either.

Gone at last week's book-burning...........................

[dipso]

As a finale, he turned and walked away on the lake.
But not before he turned the drinking fountains into wine boxes.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Hogwarts will never be the same........

[dipso]

I am sure that once he explains a talking snake made him do it, everything will be O.K.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Germany or Florida

[kstar]

What if he really was a wizard?

[lfot]

Originally Posted by Jared Fenton

Germany or Florida

Yeah Carolla!

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

Of course. You turn them into a newt.

He did, but they got better...

[austin552]

Why do they burn wizards?

[IROC]

Originally Posted by austin552

Why do they burn wizards?

Because they're made of wood, obviously.

[MRM]

Someone needs to get a big duck and weigh them together to see if he really is a wizard. The fact that he can't conjur himself up a new job suggests that he is not.